ITPEC IP April 2019 Question 74
An e-mail with a subject of “Caution: New computer virus” was received from the external network. The sender is not an acquaintance, and the content may or may not be true. However, the e-mail describes the characteristics of the virus, and instructs that the e-mail must be forwarded to as many people as possible. Which of the following is an appropriate course of action to be taken for this e-mail?
Explanation
The e-mail is not forwarded to anyone — an unverified warning that asks to be forwarded widely is a chain e-mail, most likely a virus hoax.
The sender is unknown, the content cannot be confirmed, and the message demands to be passed on to as many people as possible: the marks of a chain e-mail. Forwarding it spreads possibly false information, alarms people and loads mail servers and networks, whether or not the virus exists. The right action is to stop it there; if in doubt, check with the security administrator or a trusted source such as an antivirus vendor.
Answer (c)
Why not others:
- •(a) and (b) — forwarding it to acquaintances or to all employees is exactly the spreading the chain e-mail asks for
- •(d) — replying to an unknown sender confirms that the address is live and asks an untrusted source for security advice
Key rule: Never forward chain e-mail, even when it poses as a warning; confirm security information through official channels such as the security administrator or the vendor.
Security · AI-written, may contain errors
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